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Why are bighorn and domestic sheep hanging out? Here's why we should care.

February 14, 2024 // NEWS: In Short

The bacteria M. ovi causes mild symptoms in domestic sheep, but can be fatal to bighorns
A respiratory illness common in domestic sheep can devastate wild bighorn sheep herds. In a quest to minimize transmission, a pair of MSU researchers is leading a study to identify how wild and domestic sheep interact.
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How Irrigation Harms (or Helps) Streamflows in the West

February 9, 2024 // NEWS: In Short

You can see all the wildlife Yellowstone offers when you visit the Yellowstone River delta
A new study used 35 years of data to qualify the impacts of irrigation on river basins across the western U.S. to better inform future management decisions. As it turns out, it’s complicated.
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The Heartbeat of Wild Places

February 4, 2024 // Feature story

Mountain King: If you lock eyes with this guy, you'll want some distance between you
Deep in the wildest terrain in the Rockies, a mysterious discovery tells the story of a battle between Montana's most lethal predators. And why we need them on the landscape.
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Pair of wildlife diseases detected in Montana birds

February 2, 2024 // NEWS: In Short

Mourning doves and Eurasian collared doves are susceptible to the disease PPMV
Recent avian flu and pigeon paramyxovirus detections prompted FWP to issue a statement last month informing residents to be aware and diligent if they find dead birds.
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Forests of Immortal Stories

January 31, 2024 // OPINION: Essay

Old-growth forests, whether in large continuous stands or scattered pockets, have long found refuge in Greater Yellowstone
In her latest essay, MoJo columnist Susan Marsh writes how ancient trees draw human love in Greater Yellowstone and across the globe.
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Montana Files Intent to Sue Over Listing Wolverines Under ESA

January 29, 2024 // NEWS: Dispatch

Wolverines were listed as "threatened" last November. Now, Montana plans to sue.
The 15-page letter of intent to sue US Fish and Wildlife Service comes on heels of November 2023 decision to list wolverines as ‘threatened.’
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Wolves: Love Them or Hate Them?

January 24, 2024 // NEWS: In Short

A recent study indicates that tolerance for wolves in Montana has grown since 2012
Results from a recent survey by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the University of Montana finds growing tolerance toward wolves among state residents.
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Call of the Mild

January 23, 2024 // NEWS: Dispatch

Need snow? An unseasonably warm and dry winter thus far has left Greater Yellowstone thirsty
With regional snowpack at record lows and average temperatures well above normal, how are local wildlife coping with the unusual winter?
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Homeward Bound

January 19, 2024 // NEWS: Film Review

Mule deer migrate hundreds of miles to winter grounds from Grand Teton National Park
A new documentary released by the Wyoming Migration Initiative chronicles the travel and travails of Grand Teton mule deer.
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In Cadence: ‘Mni Wiconi’ and the Great Observers

January 16, 2024 // OPINION: Essay

The Yellowstone River runs north from Yellowstone National Park nearly 700 miles to its confluence with the Missouri
Recalling the 2016 Standing Rock demonstrations protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline, a Lakota woman reflects on the rhythm and power of water.
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2023 a ‘Good Food Year’ for Yellowstone Grizzlies

January 11, 2024 // NEWS: In Short

In October 2023, Grizzly Bear 566 weighed in at a whopping 716 pounds, three shy of the Greater Yellowstone record
Last fall, Grizzly 566 weighed in at a near record-breaking 700 pounds, Mountain Journal spoke with a grizzly expert for the latest in health and population trends for bears in Greater Yellowstone.
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The Past 30 Years in Yellowstone, Part 4: Mike Finley

January 9, 2024 // Interview Series

Mike Finley served the National Park Service for 32 years, including a trifecta of superintendent posts at three national parks
In the final installment of MoJo’s interview series with four Yellowstone superintendents, Mike Finley pulls no punches discussing the issues in our national parks.
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The Future of Drought in Montana

January 5, 2024 // NEWS: In Short

A barren wheatfield in Malta, Montana, after it was raided by migratory grasshoppers that thrive in drought conditions
Following a three-year planning process, Montana released an updated Drought Management Plan, seeking to foster drought resilience in the state and recognizing climate change as a driving factor.
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50 Years: How the Endangered Species Act Influenced Greater Yellowstone

January 2, 2024 // NEWS: Dispatch

Bald eagles were finally listed under the ESA in 1978
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act, Mountain Journal looks at the landmark legislation’s impact on some of Greater Yellowstone’s keystone species.
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